Man charged with allegedly raping mentally disabled woman

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A man has been accused of raping a mentally disabled woman in Cedar City.

Gerald Santos, 56, was charged Tuesday in 5th District Court with rape, a first-degree felony, and forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.

On May 15, the 22-year-old woman was walking her dogs past a home near 500 W. 2000 North when she stopped and talked to Santos, who was working on the yard of a vacant home. The woman said that Santos asked her to come inside so that he could show her the home, according to the charges.

Once inside, he allegedly sexually assaulted her, the charges add.

After his arrest on Sunday, Santos admitted to the police that he "had sex with [the victim]," according to the charges. He also said that he could tell that she was "not all there," the charges add.

The woman has a disability that "makes her brain function similar to that of a small child with multiple limitations," according to the charges.

Santos was booked into Iron County Jail. He makes his next court appearance Wednesday.

mmcfall@sltrib.com

Twitter: @mikeypanda

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